THE RANFURLY SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 214, 6 September 1912, Page 2

THE RANFURLY SHIELD.

OTAGO V. AUCKLAND. LAST MATCH OF THE SEASON. The final match of the season for the Ranfurly Shield will be played at Alexandra Park to-morrow (Saturday) afternoon, when the Otago representatives wil! make an effort to wrest the trophy from its present resting place in Auckland. The southerners, by their dieplay against Taranaki on Wednesday, proved themselves to be a Qrst-claes combination, and they are quietly confident of their ability to include the Ranfurly Shield in their luggage when they leave Auckland. The local team have come through their engagements so far this season with flying colours, and can be relied upon to make a big effort to present the southerners putting the Otago label on the trophy, and the game should be the most interesting and exciting of the season. Two curtain raisers will be played, the representative public schools' match between Waikato and Auckland starting at 1 p.m., and the University v. Three Kings College at 2 p.m., the big fixture being timed to start at 3 p.m. The teams are:— OTAGO. (Colours, blue.) Full-back: Watson. Three-<] uartere: Chambers, Cockroft, Alexander. Five-eighths: Cottercll, Eckhohl. Half: Dryden. Forwards: Oaeey, Russell, MeKellar, Irvine, Douglas, Shcchan (eapt.), Graham. Wing: Smith. AUCKLAND. Full-back: O'Leary. Three-quarters: McGregor, Stewart, Macky. Five-eighths: Ifwerson, Weston. Half: Webb. Forwards: Scllars, Tresize, Bruce, Cunniaghaai, Wilson, Carroll, Barrett. Wing: Walshe. Mr J. Williams has been chosen to act as referee. RECEPTION TO THE VISITORS, The Otago team arrived by the Main Trunk express this morning, and were met on behalf of the Auckland Rngby Onion by Mr 1L J. Slieaban (chairman of committee, and accompanied to the Thames Hotel, where they are patting up during their stay in Auckland. During the morning the team were accorded an official reception, lir M. J. Sheahan presiding. There were also present Messrs Williams, Langsford, Buxton, Forsyth, Lenihan and others. In welconiing' the visitors Mr Sheahan said that Saturday's game would make the fourteenth occasion on which the provinces had met, and, looking back on the past thirteen, one coruld only have the happiest recollections. The matched had always been played in the most friendly manner, and hq hoped the fourteenth would be no exception. lie regretted that the journey had been such a trying ane, but they had youth and vigour, and i few hours' rest would put them right igain. Ho had to congratulate them on their great victory over Taranaki, and tilso Cockroft on his splendid goal-kick-ing. Their visit was a very opportune Dne, for Otago produced men who played the game for the love of it and not for any monetary consideration. Unfortunately at present monetary reasons were creeping into the sport, and he knew they could rely upon Otago for assistance in battling against it. The team could be assured of a hearty welcome on the field to-morrow, for Aucklanders could always be relied upon to extend a warm welcome to the men from the south. At present Auckland had two prominent Dunedinitcs in Messrs Williams and Forsyth, who had done yeoman service for the game in the capital jity of the north. Mr Cavanagh, sole selector and one of the managers, in replying thanked Mr >heahan and the Auckland Rugby Union For their welcome. Tho meetings between the two provinces had always proluced good football, and the Otago pub(id always looked forward to the visit of Auckland, for they were assured of ieeing the cream of the Dominion footballers. Unfortunately the last match it Dunedin was played on a Wednesday, md a number of people were debarred from neeing it, but he hoped the Auckland Union would arrange the next meeting for a Saturday. Regarding the monetary part of the business, there were too many club traditions in Otago for Rugby ever to be stamped out, and it would always be pre-eminent. They were after the Ranfurly Shield, but apart from that issue they could rely upon the team giving an exhibition in keeping with the best traditions of Otago football. Mr Sandes, the other manager, endorsed Mr Cavanagh's remarks, adding that they were right after the shield, and if they got it would tuck it under their arms and Auckland woidd have a hard job to get it back. Mr Sheehan (captain of the team) also responded. The Otago team visited Alexandra Park this afternoon for practice.